Rattlesnakes seen at Prewitt campground

Camping on Memorial Day brought a big surprise for Joyce Wilburn and her family and friends: rattlesnakes.

Wilburn, a Sterling resident who used to live in Brush, went camping in a familiar spot at Prewitt Reservoir, never expecting to have a run-in with potentially dangerous wildlife.

"It was Memorial Day. We were getting ready to pack up and leave, and I heard someone say, 'there's a snake in the tree,'" Wilburn recalled.

Further investigation revealed a burrow hole at the bottom of the tree, and sure enough, a snake was "sticking its head in and out," she said of the rattler.

"I had never seen anything like that," Wilburn said. "It was not intimidated by any of us. It came out and slithered up to another tree."

If that wasn't bad enough, another even larger rattlesnake came out of another hole below a tree.

Wilburn said she knew that rattlesnakes could be found throughout northeast Colorado, but this sighting definitely caught her off guard.

"We had camped out there a lot over the last several years and never saw one," Wilburn said of why it surprised her and her fellow campers so much.

The western rattlesnake is Colorado's only native venomous snake, according to information from the Colorado State University Extension. It appears in most habitats throughout the state.

There are six basic ways to tell a venomous rattlesnake from similar-looking but harmless snakes:

1. Rattles at the end of the tail.

2.

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Fangs in addition to their rows of teeth.

3. Facial pits between the nostrils and eyes.

4. Vertical and elliptical pupils that may look like thin lines in bright light. (Nonvenomous snakes have round pupils.)

5. A single row of scales between the vent and the tip of the tail. (Nonvenomous snakes have two rows of scales.)

6. Broad triangular head and narrow neck.

There really aren't any reliable and scientifically proven repellants for rattlesnakes, according to CSU Extension.

Instead, people should be prepared for what to do if they encounter a rattlesnake, especially when camping or hiking in wild areas that could be considered the reptile's natural habitat.

The Extension recommends wearing "long, loose pants and calf-high leather boots, or preferably snake guards." Rattlesnakes generally are nonaggressive toward people unless they are startled, cornered or stepped upon, according to Extension. Alert them of approach by sweeping grassy areas with a long stick before entering. Never jump over logs, turn over rocks, put your hands in rock crevices or sit down without first carefully checking for snakes.

Also, rattlesnakes do not always shake their rattles before striking, so don't rely on hearing the rattle as a warning.

If confronted with a rattlesnake, Extension recommends remaining calm and still at first, then trying to back away slowly and carefully.

If bitten by a rattlesnake, remain as calm as possible. Venomous snakes do not always release venom when they bite, according to Extension.

But if venom is present, panic will only increase the heart rate, which would cause the poison to circulate more quickly.

Extension advised against trying to kill the snake that struck "because it may lead to additional bites and delay your arrival at the hospital for professional treatment."

Antivenin is available for treatment of bits from all native pit vipers in the United States. While it is helpful to know the species of snake that did the biting, it is no longer necessary.

Immediately after being bitten, check the injured area. If it is a venomous snake bite, there may be one or two visible fang marks in addition to teeth marks.

The common and fairly quick reactions to venom are swelling and pain in the bite area, followed by a black and blue discoloration of the tissue and possibly nausea, according to Extension. Painful swelling of lymph nodes in the groin or armpit usually occurs within one hour if the bite is on the leg or arm.

Wilburn said she reported the Memorial Day sighting of the rattlers at Prewitt to state Parks and Wildlife officials.

"It's just something somebody should pay attention to," she said. "It could become a dangerous situation. But it was interesting and exciting and scary."

One thing that she noted was how fast the long snakes moved.

"They move so quickly!" she said. "They're not so big around, but they were long."

She said that when she goes camping in the future, she "will be more watchful."

"We've been camping there a lot and never experienced it," she said. "A lot of people are the same way. If we were surprised, others can be, as well."

Wilburn said she will continue to go camping with family at Prewitt, but she will be more vigilant in watching and listening for snakes there in the future.

"It's just a wonderful place to camp, but now I'll have a little fear about the snakes," she said.

3. If possible, wash the wound with soap and water. If available, a Sawyer Extractor Pump may be used to remove some of the venom. Be familiar with the procedure and instructions before you need to use it.

4. Immobilize the bite area, keeping it in a neutral to below the heart position.

5. Get to the hospital immediately. Do not wait for the pain to get severe. The use of approved antivenom is the most effective treatment for envenomation. If possible, have another person drive, and call ahead to the hospital and the poison center.

What not to do:

Do not use a tourniquet.

Do not make an incision at the bite site.

Do not suck out the venom with your mouth, as this may increase the risk of infection.